Metal desk construction



Aug. 23, 1932. D. E. HUNTE R 1,873,932

METAL DESK CONSTRUCTION Filed March 2. 1931 Patented Aug. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DAVID E. HUNTER, OF MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE SHAW-WALKER COM- IPANY, OF MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN METAL DESK CONSTRUCTION Application filed March 2, 1931. Serial No. 519,485.

This invention relates to improvements in metal desk construction, and more particularly to a novel method of mounting and anchoring the top section to the body of a desk and other types of metal furniture, such as tables, filing cabinets and the like.

The object of the inventlon is to provide a substantial and practical method of constructing the upper portion of a flat top desk for the reception, support and anchorage of the top which is preferably a separate unit to be assembled after the desk in more or less knocked down form arrives at the place of destination or use.

The features of the invention herein disclosed are fully illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the desk body with the top removed.

Figure 2 is a detail view in perspective of a section at the central portion of the top and the a means for anchoring the same to the frame members on the body of the desk.

Figure 3 is a detail View in vertical section of the locking means as taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one corner of the desk showing the manner in which the top is anchored at its edges to the body of the desk.

Figure 1 illustrates the desk with the top removed so that the structural details may be more clearly discerned. The desk preferably designed to be shipped in knocked down form, consists of two pedestals 1, 1, and are separate units which are spaced apart to provide the usual clearance space between, open at front and rear except for a narrow panel 2 extending across the back between the upper ends of the pedestals after the parts have been assembled.

Referring now to the construction at the top of the desk, it will be observed that the two pedestals 1, 1 are surmounted andjoined by several parallel bars extendin the full length of the desk, these of course being normally concealedby the top 3 shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4. These bars are preferably four in number, consisting of a pair of channel shaped bars 4, 4 extending along the front and rear edges and a pair of intermediate bars 5, 5 of Z;-shape (thus 2), the distance between the bars being substantialy equal. These pairs of bars 4, 4 and 5, 5 are bolted down to the top rails of the pedestals withgg the two channel bars 4, 4 facing inwardly toward each other and the upper flanges of the Z-bars extending outwardly.

The top 3 is a fiat metal plate which in practice is preferably covered with a suitable sur-- facing material, but omitted in the present disclosure. The margins of the top are curved downwardly and inwardly in semicircular shape as shown in Figure 4 to form a rounded edge which rests on its under side along the four sides of the desk with its flat top portion resting upon the top flanges of the bars 4 and 5.

Bolts 6 are used to fasten the bars 4 and 5 to the upper portions of the pedestal, four of these bolts being used for each bar. The bolts anchoring the outer pair of channel bars 4, 4, however, are equipped with lugs 7 adapted to be swung over the inturned edges of the'top 3 and to be locked by tightening the bolts 6 after the top has been set in place. For this reason the bars 4 are slotted as at 4a. opposite the inner set of bolts 6, and cut away as at 46, adjacent the corner bolts.

As already explained, the central part ofthe top 3 rests upon the intermediate bars 5, 5 and in order to anchor the top down and prevent possible warping, the following means of anchorage is employed: The top flanges of the Z-bars5 are slotted as at 5a, these slots being grouped at the center of the top as shown in Figure 1. Elsewhere the top flanges are covered with strips of felt 8 or other cushioning material. On the under side of the top 3 are welded metallocking members 9, having depending V-shaped clips 9a which register with and project through the slots 5a when the top is assembled. Locking strips or keys 10 are then inserted endwise through the clips below the slotted flanges of the bars, these keys consisting of flat metal strips tapering slightly from end to endas do the bottom edges of the clips. Thus by driving these strips through the clips, a wedging action takes place which draws the top tightly down 155 to the bars 5, with the layer of cushioning maclip to draw and lock the central portion of terial between, the final operation-being to said top to the desk body. bend the forward end of each key laterally, Signed at Muskegon, Mich.,' this 26th day thus preventing them from becoming of February, 1931. loosened, as clearly shown in Figure 2. DAVID E. HUNTER. lm Thus with the top securely anchored or fastened down to the body of the desk around its outer edges, it is apparent that there would be a tendency for the central portion to buckle and warp, were it not for a firm anchorage [m1 at the center as provided by the wedging action of the locking strips 9 being driven through the clips and drawing the top against the cushioning strips 8.

Havin set'forth a preferred means for ac complishlng the firmmounting and anchorage of the topto the body of a metal desk,

I claim as my invention: 1. In a metallic desk construction, the combination with a desk body having a rail extending across the top thereof and provided with a vertically opening slot adjacent its central portion, a sheet-metal top adapted to rest upon said rail and provided with a metal clip having a depending looped portion regl istering with and projecting through said slot, and a wedge shaped key plate adapted to be driven endwise through the portion of said clip below said slot. 30 2. In a metallic desk construction, the com bination with a desk body having flanged rails extending across the top thereof and providedwith slots adjacent the central portion, a top having a flat under surface adapted to rest upon said rails and provided with metal clips having depending looped portions registering with and projecting through said slots, and wedge shaped key plates adapted to be driven endwise through said clips and their forward ends bent laterally to lock them in place.

3. In a metallic desk construction, the combination with a body having a .top supporting member provided with a vertically opening slot, the top separate from said body and r 11 comprising a sheet metal base adapted to rest upon said supporting member and provided with a U-shaped clip fastened to its bottom surface and adapted to register with and pass through said slot in said top supporting member when the same is assembled on said desk body and a locking member adapted to be driven through said clip below said slot. 55 4. In a metallic desk construction, the com- 123 bination of separate body and top members, said body having upstanding rails extending horizontally across its top portion and provided with vertically opening slots, said top p :60 being adapted to seat upon said rails and hav- 125 ing a metal clip projecting from its under side and adapted to register with and pass through said slots when said top is assembled on said desk body, and wedge-shaped locking 65 members insertable lengthwise through said 136 

